By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
An aerial view of a section of the Greater Portmore community in St. Catherine where extortionists are targeting private householders doing additions to their homes. - Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer
EXTORTION, WHICH for several years has been a major concern for business operators in downtown Kingston, has now found its way into the dormitory community of Portmore, St. Catherine, Gleaner investigations reveal.
The police have confirmed that extortion is taking place in parts of Portmore where householders doing additions to their homes are being pressured for money.
However, residents have been reluctant in coming forward to give information to the police, hampering their efforts to put a dent in the extortion racket.
BRUTAL MURDER
Speaking with The Gleaner on Tuesday, a senior officer at the Greater Portmore Police Station, St. Catherine, said the cops were probing the brutal murder of a 45-year-old contractor, Selvin Earle Walton, who they suspect was a victim of the extortion racket.
Reports are that on Monday, June 2, about 9:30 a.m., Mr. Walton was sitting in his car near the Gore Tuca housing scheme in Greater Portmore when he was attacked by gunmen who pumped several bullets into his body. He died on the spot.
According to the officer, prior to Mr. Walton's death, there were allegations that his life was threatened by persons who wanted to extort money from a construction site where a house was being extended.
Further allegations are that he had declined to give the men money.
Informed police sources told The Gleaner that, as a result of Mr. Walton's refusal to comply with the demands of the extortionists, a male relative was attacked and beaten by a group of men. A few days later Mr. Walton was killed.
EXTORTION STRATEGY
It is understood that the extortionists would turn up at just about any home where construction work is being done. They ask for work and sometimes demand to be put on the pay bill. If this is not done, they resort to various means of violence to intimidate the contractors.
Police Commissioner Francis Forbes has promised to tackle the problem of extortion wherever it exists, and last week announced that the newly-formed Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) would deal with the problem. The OCID will also focus on tackling criminal deportees and criminal gangs.
